Calls to get cruise ships boycotting Melbourne to come to SA

Another state government’s row with the cruise industry will flow on to Adelaide and cost us business, local travel leaders say.

Tourism industry figures are calling on the government to leapfrog Melbourne as southern Australia’s premier cruise ship home port — or lose a fortune as cruise ships boycotting Melbourne also skip Adelaide.

Carnival Australia has pulled several ships from Melbourne from 2025 over steeply rising port fees and will “go to other docks interstate from 2025.”

A spokeswoman said Carnival doesn’t “have anything to add in regards to Adelaide” at the moment.

In the 2023-24 cruise season, Carnival Australia will operate 23 cruises from Melbourne under brands which include Princess and Cunard but these brands will boycott Melbourne in 2025 while another Carnival brand, P & O Australia, is weighing its options.

Travel industry expert Phil Hoffmann said: “This will hurt us — we certainly will lose some cruises out of Adelaide from it, which is a big concern.

Phil Hoffmann Travel managing director, Phil Hoffmann Image/Russell Millard Photography

“The spend involved can’t be underestimated, you think about 2000 people touring KI or the Barossa for a day, with the employment that generates, now at risk.

“It is now up to the government and SA Tourism Commission to work on it.”

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the government, through the SATC is in constant discussions with all cruise lines to increase homeporting in Adelaide and have SA included in more cruise itineraries.

“It was only recently that Virgin Voyages confirmed it will include Adelaide from next cruise season, and we look forward to welcoming cruise lines like UK based Ambassador Cruise Line to our state for the first time in coming months,” she said.

“Cruise is hugely valuable to our state’s visitor economy and to regions like Kangaroo Island and Eyre Peninsula, and that’s why we have made significant investment in the sector to make South Australia an even more appealing and well-known cruise destination.

“With more cruise visits scheduled for South Australia this season than ever before, and the sector contributing a record $215m to the state’s economy last season, we are continuing our work to ensure South Australia remains a must-visit cruise destination.”

Deputy Opposition leader John Gardner. Picture: Matt Loxton.

Deputy Opposition leader John Gardner called on the government to lobby to make Adelaide the home port for the ships skipping Melbourne.

“It would be a huge blow to our economy and local tourism operators if cruise liners overlooked South Australia as a destination, with the last cruise season injecting more than $200m into the state,” he said.

“One way to protect this important part of South Australia’s tourism industry is for Peter Malinauskas to convince Carnival Australia that SA is the premier docking destination, with so much on offer from the sea to the hills.”

Tourism Industry Council of SA chief executive Shaun de Bruyn said the cruise industry is an important segment of the tourism mix and many businesses rely on customers from cruise ships.

“SA is a wonderful cruising destination and it would be great to see Carnival base another ship here or extend their season in Adelaide during our cruise season,” he said.